Lottery, a gambling game or method of raising money in which a number of tickets are sold and prizes are distributed by drawing lots. The prize money in lotteries may be a single large sum or a series of smaller amounts. The word is probably a variant of Middle Dutch loterie or Old French lottery, from the Latin lupere “to choose by lot,” and ultimately derives from Lotto, the name of an ancient Roman goddess of fate and destiny.
In the United States, most state governments operate lotteries. These games come in a variety of forms, from instant-win scratch-off tickets to the big national games that include the Powerball and Mega Millions. All involve a random selection of numbers. The more numbers you match, the higher the prize. The odds of winning a jackpot are very slim, though-statistically you are more likely to be struck by lightning or become a billionaire than win the lottery.
Many people who play the lottery do so because they covet money and the things that money can buy. This is a violation of the Bible’s ban on covetousness: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thy wife, thy servant, his ox or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17; see also Ecclesiastes 5:10).
In addition to enticing people with promises of wealth and happiness, lotteries promote themselves with images of beautiful vacations and cars, and they remind people of the benefits their purchases provide to the state. But the fact is that lotteries account for only a small fraction of total state revenue, and they do little to improve social mobility. Instead of relying on the lotto, governments should focus on improving economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.